A Newcastle United fan has left more than £10,000 in his will to fund research into dementia - because he was always scared of the illness.

Ernest Brown, who lived in Heaton, died at the age of 82 after a stroke. His great nephew Tom Hanson said his grandfather had donated the money to Alzheimer's Research UK because he had always worried about developing it, although he never did.

"Ernie was a very sociable man. He loved chatting to people and telling stories. One of his worst fears was losing the ability to communicate."

– Tom Hanson

The charity thanked Ernest and his family for the gift, saying his legacy would fund 530 hours of scientific research.